Positive year at Kilkenny Mart for cattle and sheep sales

As the song goes 'So this is Christmas and what have we done another year over a new one just begun'... but not yet, at Kilkenny Mart.

Its been a very positive year for both cattle and sheep sales with a recovery in prices which started in earnest from July onwards. The rise in prices was also felt in the sheep sector with a top call last Monday of €214 for 59 kilo with butcher type lambs ranging from €185 to €214 per head.

Factory lambs also sold well with a price range of €165 to €185 per head. Store type lambs saw prices range from €80 to €144 or €3.35 to €4.10 per kilo. The price of cull ewes also recorded a lift in prices with  a price range of €80 to €245 per head.

We will open the New Year with our first sheep sale of 2025 taking pace on Monday, January 6, with a start time of 10.15am. On Tuesday, January 7, we will hold a sale for cull cows, calves, runners and weanlings. With our first general cattle sale of 2025 taking place on Thursday, January 9, at 10.30am.

Reverting back again to last Monday we held also  our last Dairy Sale of 2024 with fresh calved milking animals ranging from €1500 to €2720 per head with in calf lots €1260 to €1400.

Our next dairy sale will be on Monday, January 13, 2025 at 12.30pm. If you are thinking of dispersing your herd please give us ample time to prepare the sale re advertising and producing a catalogue. We have a lot of interest potential buyers willing to part good money for quality lots.

On the sheep front numbers have been smaller but prices have been excellent. The lift in prices was notice earlier this year when there was a shortage of sheep for export as the UK, France, Germany, Holland and Belgium were effected with blue tongue which stop them exporting animals to the likes of Turkey, Greece and parts of Africa.

Store buyers, who in early 2024 pa comparatively big money for stores eg €120 to €145 per head were very well rewarded with returns from €190 to €240 plus per head. In the past few weeks stores are even more expensive that late 2023 to early 2024 so the returns this year would need to at least match what was acquired in March April this year. 

The cattle trade has been on fire trade wise since June this year with a few factors specifically the shortage of supply helping the trade. Blue tongue in competing countries means that Ireland been blue tongue free has become very important as a source of quality livestock. Exporters at  the marts have kept a firm floor on the trade to the benefit of the producer. Quality continental bulls and heifers have been freely selling from €2.90 to €4.20 per kilo and in cases even fancier prices have been achieved.

Even Friesian bullocks at the moment are in demand with beef types peaking close to €3 per kilo with forward stores €2.40 to €2.75 per kilo. With the large reduction in the suckler herd it looks as though coloured cattle  (continentals) will be in short supply in 2025 and beef also will not be plentiful. Perhaps its time for some younger farmers to explore the possibility of keeping a few sucklers which may well prove a wise decision.

This year in Kilkenny Mart sheep numbers have seen a reduction even allowing for the excellent returns. Our dairy numbers have remained steady and the €2000 barrier  for fresh calved Friesian cows and heifers has been exceeded on a regular basis in the past few weeks with really top notchers heading towards €3000. Cattle numbers have been similar to 2023 with the heifer sector expanding perhaps due to the fact that cull cows will be sold on a Tuesday with our calves runners and weanlings. This move means that the heifer sale on Thursdays in Ring 1 starts at 10.30 am with the bullock ring starting at the same time.

We in Kilkenny mart lost one of our long serving colleagues this year in the passing of Billy Costelloe. A great character a good farmer and dedicated St Martin's clubman. His loss will be felt by his extended family and by us here in Kilkenny Mart. May his gentle soul Rest In Peace.

Another college has decided to retire after serving over 55 years. Martin Brennan has been part and parcel of the team here in Kilkenny Mart and  I have shared the rostrum with him  for many of those years and found him to be efficient and a true  gentleman. Happy retirement Martin.  

Until next time do be careful on the farm and wishing you and yours a Happy Christmas and a healthy 2025.